What if Letterman retires?

Hasn't the speculation been that when Letterman retires, CBS is going to go after Jon Stewart?

[quote]They would rather go with Drew Carey or Wayne Brady.
umm....no...I doubt that.

Letterman will be carried off kicking and screaming -- he won't retire.

Let me clarify. They would rather go to Carey or Brady as a last resort, before Leno

R1

R4 his production company owns the show. Ownership was very important to him when he moved to CBS. Before when he was at NBC he only an employee.
But if he goes, he will take the show with him. The only thing he can't take is the time-period.

Letterman and Leno should both go away and retire. Neither are funny and they're both smug.

Maybe Conan would take over The Late Show.

Letterman's CBS show is painfully unfunny. His NBC show was brilliant, however.

R8 Conan needs to just stick to his stupid show he's got instead of trying to take over ANOTHER show.
If networks want to get a younger audience to watch these late night talk shows, then they need to get some younger hosts like Fallon. People are bored with all these old men like Letterman, Leno, Ferguson, and O'Brien.

I agree with both R9 and R10.

If networks want to get a younger audience to watch these late night talk shows, then they need to get some younger hosts like Fallon. People are bored with all these old men like Letterman, Leno, Ferguson, and O'Brien.
Sure would be nice if, for once, one of the networks would give a shot to a woman or a person of color to host a late-night show. Why not promote Arsenio from syndication to NBC? Or Anderson Cooper? Or Joy Behar? It should not be the exclusive domain of straight white men.

[quote] then they need to get some younger hosts like Fallon
That is why Leno is getting kicked to the curb. Because Kimmel is gobbling up the younger audience, NBC wants to fight fire with fire.

[quote]If networks want to get a younger audience to watch these late night talk shows, then they need to get some younger hosts like Fallon. People are bored with all these old men like Letterman, Leno, Ferguson, and O'Brien.
Sure would be nice if, for once, one of the networks would give a shot to a woman, person of color, or out gay person to host a late-night show. Why not promote Arsenio from syndication to NBC? Or Anderson Cooper? Or Joy Behar? It should not be the exclusive domain of straight white men.

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R14 Joy & Arsenio are too old and AC is a newsman

You know Ryan Seacrest probably wants a job like that.

R14 I completely agree - why is it always unfunny straight white men? In Europe, there are several gay late night tv show hosts and they're way funnier than the old straight white men on American tv.
I disagree about Anderson Cooper though - I'm tired of him being the "go-to gay". He's already everywhere and no way does he have the sense of humor to do a late night show. It would be nice if they would give an unknown a chance and find some new talent.

R10

Letterman has already made it known he's out at 70. His son will be an active teen and he is very realistic about how much time he has left to be in his life. His contract takes him to that point.
I think John Stewart is a shoe in IF he wants to devote the amount of time the shift would require.

anonymissy

Mario Cantone

They should put Howard Stern on at 11:30. He would probably destroy the competition.

That would be my dying wish!

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R20 Again, we don't need anymore old white men. We need younger hosts.
[quote]Mario Cantone
No. Just no.
[quote]I think John Stewart is a shoe in IF he wants to devote the amount of time the shift would require.
No again.

Honestly, out of all of them, Howard has always done the best interviews. I hope he gets a shot at late night.

To R10 and R15:
True, and those were all just examples off the top of my head (which is why they weren't such great examples) but I think the question is still a valid one: it's time the networks thought beyond the straight white male as host of a late-night show on network television. Nothing against straight white males, it's just there seems to be a very closed-minded approach to this particular role in American culture.
There's a certain prestige to being host of a late-night show on one of the Big Four networks, so much so that it has become the last frontier of sorts for the non-straight white male in television. And after the success of people like Rosie and Arsenio in syndication in years past (not to mention Ellen and Steve Harvey now), I think it's time we see a different approach by the networks at night.

R14

Although he still takes tons of shit from fraus and fundies who haven't listened to him since the early 90's, Howard is considered one of the best interviewers in the business. Many journalists with blue chip credibility have said as much.
And lets be honest: he may be knocking on the door of 60, but he seems light years younger than Leno and Letterman.
For the record, I do not think John Stewart at 48 is too old. Leno was near that when he took over.

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Jon Stewart is too old to take over a show like Late Night. He's early fifties. They need someone in their 30's.

Who?

I'd like to see Justin Timberlake take over Letterman's show. Seriously.

30's?? Ya kidding? That would be like appointing a Supreme Court Justice in his/her early 40's.
45-49 would be perfect. Remember, there are a whole lot of fly overs out there who find JL funny.
They would be completely tone deaf to someone like Tosh or Katt Williams.

nevermind

Btw, read today that Seth Meyers might be a contender to take over Jimmy Fallon's show once Fallon takes over for Leno.
Also, re Conan, this question came up the other day in Robert Bianco's TV chat in USA Today and he said he doubts Conan would be considered for a network slot again because they (the networks) feel he has already "had his shot" and have moved on from him, so TBS is likely where he'll stay.

I like Conan on TBS.

Conan is brilliant comedy.

The thing that Fallon did that was so brilliant is to actually act like he likes his job! Just like Letterman's surly attitude was so refreshing when he came on the scene, so is Fallon's earnestness. Leno is running on fumes. Conan (who I like, btw) sort of copied Letterman's schtick with some added nerdiness, Ferguson also is too self-deprecating (and we get it...you're an alkie).
Kimmel and Fallon both seemed to love their jobs and that's why both are doing so well. Plus, Fallon is a great, great performer.

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Amy Poehler

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I don't watch TV. I have a fire place.

Mrs.%20Martha%20Dudley

If Letterman retires, then I think Ferguson will take that spot. I can't imagine David doing to Craig what NBC did to him when Carson retired. I love Craig Ferguson and I would be happy if he was on an hour earlier.

Ciaran

The key to late night at 11:30 has always been 18-49. Following his AGT judge role,I think Howard has gained a broader base of people who like him. Yeah he is 59 but I he audience on Sirius is a mix of young and fiercely loyal long time listeners. I think he would translate all of that very easy into a huge win in late night. I still remember his channel 9 show. To this day the funniest thing I have ever seen - he was interviewing Richard Simmons who brought on people he helped lose weight..and as he in talking to them his is lowering down twinkies on fishing line in front of them. Some of the greatest stuff he has ever done was with Richard. I remember the e show where they butched him up and he made out with Sandra Bernhart.

[quote]Just like Letterman's surly attitude was so refreshing when he came on the scene
I've watched Letterman since 1982 and will continue to do so till the day he retires; even though his act has weathered over the years, I will remain a dedicated fan to the end. I also love Fallon, think he's a genuinely good guy, and very happy for his success.
It's weird but as much as I like Conan, I've yet to watch his TBS show (mostly, I think, because I just tend to forget about him opposite Stewart, the 11 o'clock news, and reruns of SEINFELD). Never liked Leno but do think he's a good interviewer. And Kimmel is just meh to me and I don't really understand how he's gotten to where he is, but whatever.
R36, I like Craig Ferguson, too, but wonder if CBS would see him as being competitive against Fallon and Kimmel should they move him into Letterman's spot after Dave steps down. I see them going after Stewart or Colbert first.